Pilots arrested on suspicion of being under alcohol influence due in court

Two pilots are expected to appear in court after being arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Scotland to the US.

The men, aged 35 and 45, are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court after the alleged incident at Glasgow Airport on Saturday.

Concerns were reportedly raised before the 9am United Airlines UA162 flight to Newark, New Jersey, was due to depart at 9am.

The flight, carrying 141 passengers, eventually took off on Saturday evening with a new crew on board.

Police said the two men were arrested and detained in connection with alleged offences under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, section 93.

The section relates to carrying out pilot function or activity while exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol.

United Airlines said the pilots had been removed from service pending an investigation.

The incident follows the appearance in court last month of two Canadian pilots charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Scotland to Toronto.

Jean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested on Monday July 18 before they were due to take off on the Air Transat flight from Glasgow Airport.

The men were remanded in custody when they first appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court, also charged under section 93 of the same Act.

At a second hearing at the same court they were granted bail on condition they surrender their passports.

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